29 November 2007

UK Athletics (UKA) Chief Executive Niels de Vos today announced a major reorganisation of the sport’s Solihull-based headquarters.  The restructuring proposes that the number of staff will be reduced by more than a third over the next few months.

Commenting on his announcement, de Vos explained:

“Since my appointment six months ago I have been concerned at the sheer scale of the UK Athletics operation – we simply cannot justify the current levels of HQ expenditure given UKA’s primary purpose as a strategic body.

“The roles of UK Athletics are clear: alongside the administrative and legislative responsibilities common to all international governing bodies, we have direct management responsibility for elite performance – that is of Great Britain teams at major championships.

“In addition UKA has a strategic responsibility to guide the development of the sport at all levels below the elite. However, delivery of athletics below the elite level must ultimately be the responsibility of local organisations; primarily the Home Countries but also schools, clubs and local authorities, each implementing the strategic vision UKA creates for the sport.

“The restructuring announced today will enable clearer definition of roles and responsibilities between UKA and the other agencies working in athletics, reducing unnecessary duplication and improving the effectiveness of delivery of athletics at the grassroots.”

Chairman Ed Warner added;

“Niels has made it clear that he intends to create a sharper focus to the scale and purpose of UK Athletics, to maximise the impact of every pound where it matters most – at the point of delivery of the sport, be that in an elite training centre or at a local athletics club.  The restructure and subsequent reforms of UKA under Niels’ leadership will achieve this. It will free up resources for athletics and, will I am sure, be welcomed by the sport.”